Nike is making sure you don’t see even a fraction of non-Nike gear in a new promotional shot of the U.S. Olympics Basketball team. The brand’s influence on the game appears to be so strong that it won’t allow rival brands to be featured in the same photo as its products, or so it appears.
The three players on Team USA who don’t sport Nike kicks on the court—Harrison Barnes, Kyle Lowry and Klay Thompson— are all suspiciously placed in the back of the group photo.
This appears to be something of an ongoing tradition. In 2008, Coach Mike Krzyzewski blocked Dwight Howard’s Adidas by placing his foot in front of Howard’s shoes, the only player in the lineup who was blocked in the manner.